Confection-coating machine



July 5,1927. I HASMTH 6350.15

CONFECTION COATING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet;- l

Patented July 5, 1927.

.1 UNITED STATES Louis A. SMITH, or AUBURN, NEW YORK.

conrEorIoN-ooA'rING MACHINE.

Application filed February My invention relates to improvements in 'machines used in the manufacture of confections, and the present form of SllCllulIlvention is designed for, producing what are known as ice cream pies, that is a slice or block of ice-cream and a coating ofchocolate or other edible substance around the same.

The principal object of theinvention is to produce a simple and easilyoperable machine which will rapidly cut slices from a large block or bar of ice cream, will dip the cut slices of cream into the coating fluidand will then discharge the coated slices.

Furtherobjects are to provide simple yet ellicientmeans for holding and carrying the bodies to be coated, and to produce novel means for operating the holding and'carrying means to first dip each body into the coating fiuid, to then raise it from the fluid and to finallydischarge the coated body.

Still further aims areto provide a unique form of cutter for slicing the ice cream bar, and to provide novel means for advancing the bar to the cutter after each slice is cut;

, With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides inthe novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, and shown in: the accompanying 'drawings, V 7

"Figure 1 of the drawings is a diagrammatic perspective View of a machine 'em-Y bodying-my invention.

I Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through part of the rotary structure for grasping the cut' slices, dipping them and discharging the dipped slices; 1 Figure 3 is a perspective View of th'e cam trackage which controls the grasping, dipping and-releasing operations of the above mentioned rotary structure.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the adjustable ratchet mechanism which is instrumental in advancing the ice cream bar to the cutter. Figure 5 is a' horizontal sectional view online 55 of Figure 4.-

The drawings above briefly described may be considered as illustrative of one of the preferred'forms of constructio nbut the scope of the invention-is such that machines-of other structures usable for dipping numerous kinds of articles, may be provided within such scope. It is therefore to be understood at the outset that I am not restricted to the construction shown. 1 e The 'numeral l on the drawing designates 10, 1925. Serial NO. 8,264.

a suitable table supported by legs 2, and

under this table are suitable horizontal bars 9 slide, the upper ends of said bars carrying a horizontal cutter 10, while their lower ends are connected by a horizontal bar 11 to which a spring 12'may be connected to normally raise the three bars Sand 11 and the cutter .10. Pivoted to and extending downwardly from the bar 11, is a pitman 13 whose lower end carries a wrist pin or other shoe 14- which is both pivotally and slidably received in an arcuate guide slot 15 of a curvetrack 16, the latter being suitably carried by a wheel 17 which rotates with theshaft 7. I i

. The shaft 6 is driven by 7 through suitable connections (not shown) and these two shafts preferably turn at the same speed. On shaft 6,21 relatively large multilated gear 18 is secured, said gear having teeth 19 throughout slightly less thani half its circumference.

These teeth-are adapted, at intervals, to mesh v with and drive a smaller gear 20 on the shaft 5, the latter being normally idle. A pitm-an 21 is connectedby a'wrist pin i-Zto the gear 20, and by means of a shoulder bolt or the like 23, said pitman is connected also to 7 an oscillatory arm 24' which is loosely hung from the/shaft 4, said arm having a slot-25 along which the bolt is adjustable.

The arm 24-fcarries; a suitable springpressed dog 26' for engagement any desired pointlwithradial ratchet ribs 27. on a wheel'28 which is securedto the shaft 4. By means of belts29, this shaftft drives an endless feed conveyor -30 suitably mounted on the table 1 forjadvancing a. bar of ice cream to the cutter 10. The gears 18 and- 20, pitnian 21,ratchet mechanism -and belts'29 effect an intermittent advancement of the con veyor 30 to successively project the ice cream bar under the cutter 10,.and by the time such advancement hast-alien place, one end of the track 161pulls downwardly on the pitman 13 and operates said cutter to cut a slice from:tl1e ice cream bar. As soon as this occurs the wrist pin 14 has passed lower dead.

center and the spring 12 actsto return the cutter-and pitmanto raised position, said are delivered thereby to a receiving slide 32, from which they re caught by a rotary structure now to be described, which struc ture dips the slices into a coating lluid and later releases the coated slices onto a receiving slide 33, down which they slide to a discharge conveyor til, which may if desired conduct them to a refrigerating chamber.

The rotary structure above referred to, includes a vertical shaft 35 passing through a bearing in the table 1 and driven in any desired manner, for instance by an electric motor (not shown). This shaft is geared to the shaft 7 in any desired way so that the movements thereof are permanently syn chronized.

The upper end of the sin it 35 carries a crown 36 to which any desired number o radial, inclined arms 37 are pivoted at 35: solely for vertical movement. The outer ends of these carry hoolcs or jaws 39 which are rigid with respect thereto, and over these jaws, 11H "able jaws or grab hooks l are provided, said movable jaws being carried by levers ell. 'tulcrumed between their ends to the arms 37. Springs 12 connect to the lower ends of the levers ll. and are active to close the m vable jaws 14.0. when such clos-- ing is permitted. per ends of the levers it with bell crank levers -.l-=l: at the upper ends oi the arms 3.5T. preferably fulcrumed on the pivots do, and other links -15 connect the lovers with inclined levers :16 which are 'lulcruined between their ends to lower arms -17. The arms ll are pivoted at l8 to a collar or the like 49 on the shaft and the outer ends of these arms carry rollers 50 on which the arms 37 rest, the latter being held against lateral movement from the rollers, by guides 51 rising from the arms 4:7. These last named arms also carry vertical, spring lowered plungers which form control members for the links and levers above described or operating the movable jaws, the upper ends o'lf said plungers loosely contacting with the arms to, as at 53, while the lower ends ol'i said plungers are provided with shoes -l, for a purpose to appear below.

The arms i7 are provided with transverse rollers which rest constantly on an annular cam track 56 which is concentric with the shaft 35 and is supported by 57, secured to the table 1. The track formed with an abrupt descent 5S and a similar ascent 59 close thereto, ilior elliecting first a downward movement of the arms and jaws to dip the ice cream slice carried by the latter into a coating fluid in a suitable pan (Fig. 1), and to th n immediately raise the arms and jaws to remove the clipped slice from the fluid. At another part of its circumference, the track 56 is provided with a descent 61, with an ascentfifi spaced rather far therefrom, and with a horizontal Links all) connect the up portion 63, between said descent and ascent. Along the portion 63 is an auxiliary track 64: which is in the downward path of" the plunger shoe 54; as it drops with the arm r117, when roller 55 descends along the track descent 61. This track (54 thus ell'ects an upward shifting of the plunger with respect to the arm to operate the links and levers above described, for the purpose of opening the jaw ell) and discharging the coated ice cream slice or pie onto the slide The general operation of the machine is as follows: Assuming that a slice of ce cream has just been cut by the critter and s moving on the conveyor 1 to the slide 252, one set of the arms 37 and is then moving to the left in Fig. 1, toward said slide, and the jaw is held open by contact ol? the shoe with the track (Bl. By the time the slice descends along the slide 32, the jaws 3t) and 4.0 are in readiness to receive it, and instantly upon such reception, shoe 5&- leaves trach (Bel and spring 42 functions to close the jaw 4-0. The slide is thus held and carried to a point over the fluid pan ($0, at which point, the arms t ""end to dip the slice and then innnediatel rise, due to the track formation tad--59. The arms and jaws now carry the coated slice. until the =:ent (ll. permits lowering of the arms and consequent release of jaw 4 0 under the inlluence oil' the track (3a. and plunger shoe f'i-l. When the jaw i0 is thus released, the linished product slides down the chute 32) onto the discharge belt and is carried thereby from the machine.

It will be seen from the foregoing that very simple and elii'ective means have been provided to carry out the objects of the in vention, and on account of their advantages, the several mechanisms disclosed, are prel erably followed, but attention is again directed to the fact that numerous modifications may be made Having thus describtal my inventioirwhal I claim is:

1. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyor to support an edible body, means for intermittently driving said conveyor to advance the body, a transverse cutter at the end of said conveyor and means for operating said cutter after each iulvancement of the block to cut a slice from the latter, a second and transverse conveyor for receiving the slices and delivering them at a predetermined point, and means mov able by said point for receiving the slices from said second conveyor, dipping them in a coating tluid held in a pan and discharg ing the coated slices.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a rotary structure having a radial arm pivotally mounted solely for upward and downward movement, a j aw on the end of said arm rigid with respect, thereto, a

lU-i

movable jaw co-operable with the stationary jaw and carried by said arm, a stationary cam co-operable with said rotary structure for effecting lowering of said arm to dip the jaws into a coating fluid held in a pan and raising of said arm from the fluid, and operating means for said movable jaw operable to close the same prior to descent of the arm and to open said movable jaw after raising of'said arm.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a rotary structure having a radial arm pivotally mounted solely for upward and downward movement, a jaw on the end of said arm rigid with respect thereto, a movable jaw co-operable with the stationary jaw and carried by said arm, a stationary. cam co-operable with said rotary structurefor effecting an annular stationary cam co-operable with said rotary structure to effect dropping and raising of the arm, at

one point and similar movements of said arm at another point, operating means for said movable jaw active to close the same prior to the first dropping'of said arm and including a vertically movable control member movable with the arm and operative when'i'aised with respect to said arm for releasing the movable jaw, and a stationary track in the downward path of said control member adjacent the aforesaid other point, whereby to operate said control member to open the movable jaw.

i. A machine of the class described comprising a rotary structure having a radial arm pivotally mounted solely for upward and downward swinging,relatively movable spring closed jaws on the outer end of said arm, a lever fulcrum-ed on said arm and connected with at least one of said jaws to eifect opening thereof, a second lever fulcrumed on said rotary structure under the aforesaid lever and linked thereto, a vertically movable plunger on said rotary structure associated with said second lever for operating the same, an annular stationary arm at another point, and'a stationary track in the downward path of said plunger adjacent said other point, whereby to move said jawsf 5. A machine of the class described comprising a rotary upright shaft, an inclined arm pivoted at its upper end to said shaft and carrying relatively movable jaws at its lower end, a second arm pivoted to the shaft plunger and eifeet opening of said and liaving a roller upon which thefirst named arm rests, said second named arm also having a transverse roller, an annular stationary track upon which the second roller rests, said track having cam means for effecting raising and lowering of the second arm, and operating means for the aforesaid jaws.

'6. A machine of the class described comprising a rotary upright shaft, an inclined arm pivoted at its upper endto said shaft and carrying relatively movable jaws at its lower end, a second arm pivoted to'the shaft and having a roller upon which the first named arm rests, said second named arm also having a transverserollen'an annular stationary track upon which the second roller rests, said track having cam means for effecting lowering and raising of the sec end arm at one. point and similar movements thereof at another point, a vertically movable aw-controlling member mounted on said second arm, connect ng means between said controlling member and at least one of the aforesaid jaws, and a stationary track in the downward path of said controlling member adjacent the aforesaid other point for operating said member to open the aws.

Louis a. SMITH. 

